Sacrificial Polymer Air Filter for Pathogen Inactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air filters for HVAC systems effectively filter particles but fail to inactivate pathogens, and HEPA filters can cause a high pressure drop, leading to poor airflow.
Innovation Solution
Development of air filters infused with a sacrificial polymer containing biocides or virucides that degrade over time, exposing new active surfaces and providing continuous pathogen inactivation, combined with detection systems using single-stranded DNA microchips to monitor viral loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If HEPA filters are used to filter fine particles, then particle filtration efficiency is improved, but pressure drop increases and airflow deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines particle filtration and pathogen inactivation functions into a single filter system by integrating a sacrificial polymer coating containing biocides/virucides onto the filter substrate. This allows the filter to simultaneously achieve high particle capture efficiency and pathogen inactivation without requiring separate systems, thereby maintaining airflow while providing dual functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structure by coating the filter substrate with a sacrificial polymer that contains pathogen inactivating agents. This composite approach allows the filter to maintain its filtration performance while adding pathogen inactivation capability through the polymer coating, resolving the contradiction between filtration efficiency and airflow by combining multiple functions in one material system.
2Manufacturing precision
If passive air filters are used to trap particles, then particle capture is improved, but pathogen inactivation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the filter system to perform both particle capture and pathogen inactivation simultaneously. The sacrificial polymer coating containing biocides/virucides enables the same filter that captures particles to also inactivate pathogens, eliminating the need for separate active and passive filtration systems and providing comprehensive protection against both particles and pathogens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of particle filtration and pathogen inactivation into a single integrated system. By coating the filter substrate with a sacrificial polymer containing pathogen inactivating agents, the system combines the particle capture capability of passive filters with the pathogen inactivation capability of active systems, thereby resolving the contradiction between particle capture efficiency and pathogen inactivation capability.
3Reliability
If pathogen inactivating agents are continuously exposed, then pathogen inactivation effectiveness is improved, but material longevity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sacrificial polymer coating that is designed to wear down and degrade over time, continuously exposing fresh active surfaces containing biocides/virucides. This sacrificial approach allows the polymer to serve its pathogen inactivation function throughout its service life, after which it can be replaced. The continuous exposure of active material is achieved through the gradual degradation of the sacrificial polymer, resolving the contradiction between inactivation effectiveness and material longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous pathogen inactivation action through the gradual degradation of the sacrificial polymer coating. As the polymer wears down over time, it continuously exposes fresh surfaces containing active biocides/virucides, maintaining uninterrupted pathogen inactivation effectiveness throughout the filter's service life. This continuous action is achieved without requiring external power sources or replacement of the entire filter system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves long-lasting pathogen inactivation and high capture efficiency while maintaining airflow, as demonstrated by the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 virus within 15 minutes, and provides real-time monitoring of viral loads.
Implementation Method 1
The polymer may also have ablative or sacrificial characteristics where the surface of the polymer may wear down with time, exposing a new fresh surface of the polymer
Implementation Method 2
The sacrificial polymer may be an emulsion polymer comprised of a polyvinyl acetate and acrylate backbone where the outer surface of the polymer will be worn away over time
Implementation Method 3
introduce a large excess of virucide or biocide into the polymer mixture such that the virucide or biocide comes to the surface of the polymer through surface energy, diffusion, capillary action, or other passive transport mechanisms
Implementation Method 4
The virucide or biocide infused polymer may also be compounded such that, when coated onto the filter substrate, provides a continuous supply of the virucide or virucide to the air that is flowing through the filter
Data Source
AI summary
An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.